John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Orla O'Connor of the National Women's Council who has worked with me through the community and social pillar for many years. Many issues relate to women, disability and mental health. I am delighted that Professor Pras is here. It is interesting that it was not until 2002 that the UN appointed a rapporteur on the right to health. That may be an echo of some of the comments that have been made already. However, it is important that it is there.

Professor Pras mentioned that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 was the first declaration of the UN and came in the wake of awful tragedies across the world. I believe that committee was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of the former American President, who was a man with a disability. I am making a point about culture. It took the international community until 2006 to realise that people with disabilities had human rights, because that was when the UN agreed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. People with disabilities were people in 1948. It makes the point that it is easier to validate the rights of some people in some situations than for others. I am not talking exclusively about people with disabilities but lots of vulnerable folk. It is very difficult to get that mindset and that culture.

In answering a question Professor Pras mentioned it is more often the power imbalance rather than chemical imbalance that is in question. I accept that regarding the mental health area. The culture of things is so ingrained. There are different cultural issues in the western world, the south or different parts of the world with different religious backgrounds etc. The cultural thing is almost like a virus that is nearly impossible to neutralise. That is a major obstacle to dealing with these things.

Professor Pras also mentioned the importance of addressing the social determinants of health, which resonates with me. He took the example of Down's syndrome. Now not just Down's syndrome but a whole range of conditions can be identified before a baby is born. People can carry certain genes and get certain conditions. In some parts of the world because we have this information and knowledge we might now be on the cusp of making judgments based more on economics than on human dignity and protecting people's lives. To make it concrete, if a mother finds out she is carrying a child with Down's syndrome, there can be a lot of pressure. There is no contest here; there is only one thing to do - terminate the pregnancy. That is a cultural thing. It is a push. However, in the state where that woman lives she has to look at the very practical bread-and-butter services and supports that she would need to actually if she is supported enough to get over the cultural issue. Where will the supports be there for that woman and hopefully for those parents to be able to give that baby, that child, a decent worthwhile life? I am not saying it has to be right or whatever. I believe these kinds of social and cultural issues have become a very contested space and will continue to be more so.

The European Commission has declared this year as the European year of focused action to combat violence against women and girls. I know we are talking about a wider canvas here, but let us just keep it to Europe. There are huge issues. Disability and mental health are mixed in with a range of other areas where women and girls are vulnerable. Women as they get older are more vulnerable. Young girls are vulnerable if they are migrants or come from different ethnic groups. There are major issues here on our doorstep. I ask Professor Pras to comment on some of the observations I have made.

The European Parliament, the Commission and the Council Presidency in the Malta joint statement of February of this year have jointly made a strong call for action to member states - we are one of them - to ratify and fully implement the Council of Europe's Istanbul convention on preventing and combatting violence against domestic violence. There is no science to the answer to this. What is Professor Pras's hunch or sense if the vulnerability around violence against women and girls were removed, how significant would that be in aiding the health and well-being of females?